Treatment of cellulose.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HEEBY PETERS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB 0F ONE-HALF T( HORACE WAYTH CU'LLUM, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

TREATMENT OF CELLULOSE.

No Drawing.

Patente 1 Nov; 1 1, 1911.

To all whom itinay concern: I Be it known that I, HENRY PETERS, of 24 Tavistock Square, in the county of London, En land chemist, have invented certain new an usei ul Im rovements Relating to the Treatment of gellulose, lowing is a. specification.

This invention relates to the treatment of cellulose whereby the same can be brou ht into a .form articularly ada ted for he preparation 0 solutions capab e of applica- 7 tion for the manufacture of films, threads, coatings, molded articles, and the like.

According to the invention l heat the cellulose for sometime'lwith dichlorhydrin or epichlorhydrin containing palmitic acid and after cooling-themass of cellulose and remomum carbonate in a volatile solvent such.

as methylated s irit, and the product may be finally washed with water containin ammonium carbonate or other neutra izing agent and finally washed with water and dried. J

In carrying outthe invention I may proceed, for example, as, follows Example:' 1 kg. 'raw cellulose is heated for about Ahours in 8 liters of dichl'orhydrin or epichlorhydrinand about 50 grams of palmitic acid the temperature being 1'1 1ain-.

tained at about 120 C. After the mass has been allowed to cool, the dichlorhydrin or epichlorhydrin is pressed out thoroughly and the cellulose is dried. The cellulose is then put into a bath' consisting of 1,000

grams methylated spirit and 50 grams acidum formicicum 00,11). The cellu- -loseis steeped or pressed until it hasbeen thoroughly impregnated by the liquid. After 4 hours the mass it put into an acetylizing bath consisting preferably of:3 liters glacial acetic ac1d or other condensing agent; 3 liters acetic anhydrid; 100 grams.-. sulfuric facid;"10 grams sodium acetate.

of which the fol-' is filtered oil' and the product is withac This mass must be cooler down and alwa s kept below 50 C. After about 10 hours e whole is poured into met hylated spirit containing about 30 am; ammonium? -carbonate per liter. he c allulose product: is left in this for about 6 hc urs,then the liquid p mm water containing 30 grams ammonium carbonate per liter. Then 1he product is well washed and dried. A cellulose product "prepared in this manner-dies olves very easily in acetone, glacial acetic aid and other" solvents, and only needs abo1 it half the quantity of solvents required for ordinary cellulose acetate. It forms very :trong, non-inflammable films and retains i .s elasticity. What I claim and 'desi: e to secure by Letters Patent is 1. Av process for the ireatment or amlose, com rising (a) he lting the cellulose with a ch orhydrin body aontaining palmitic atid; (12) treatment su )sequently with a solution of formic acid 1nd a volatilesol-l vent; (absubjecting the resulting product to the action of an ace ;ylizing bath, sub;

stantially as described.

2. A process 'for the reatment of cellulose, com rismg (a; he tting. theocellulose with --dic lorhydrin'; containing palmitic acid, (b) subsequent tree tmen-t with a solution of .formic acid and a volatile solvent; (0) subjecting the result in .product to the action of an acetyli'zin; ath containing sulfuric acid, substantial y. as described.'-'

3. A process for the wreatment of c'ellulose com risin (a) he Lting the cellulose with dic orhy rin containing palmitic acid at a temperature ofabou ;;120 .C.;- 6) subse uent treatment.,with a solution 0 acid and alcohol (0) 311 jectingthe resu ing productltotlleactioi 1 of an acetylizing bath consistin fins ibsta ace of acetic anhydrid, an alkali acetatefs ulfuric acid and a condensingagentgsubstai .tially as -described.

4. A' 'processufor the reatmentjof cellulose cmnhprising (a) he tting the cellulose orhy rin body :ontaining palmitic acid,-l(b) subsequent trez tment with a solution of formic acid and a volatile solvent;

(a) subjecting the result ing product to the action ofan acetylizin bath; (03) neutralizin washlng and rring theresulting pro uct.

5. A process for the reatment of cellulose, com rising (a) heating the cellulose with a ch orhydrin body containin palmitic acid and removal of remainin' ch orhydrin body and palmitic acid; gb subsequent 5 treatment with a solution of v ormic acid and a volatile solvent; (0) subjecting the resulting product to the action of an acetylizing bath consisting in substance of acetic anhydrid, sodium acetate, sulfuric acid, and :1

1b condensing agent.

6. A process for the treatment of cellulose, comprising heating the same with a miifiture of a. chlorhydrin body and palmitic ac 7. A process for the treatment of cellu- 15 lose comprising heating the same with a mixture of dichlorhydrin and palmitic acid. In testimony whereof I have hereuntoset my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY PETERS. Witnesses HENRY ALLEN PnYoR, 'Ronnn'r MILClON SPEARPQINT. 

